Cotton-picker.



No. 768,400. I PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904.

' .T. K. PIPER.

COTTON PIGKBR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1898. no MODEL. e snnnws-snnm 1.

No. 768,400. 1 PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904.

,. J. K. PIPER.

COTTON PIOKER.

APPLICATION rmm APL'BB, 1m. no IODEL. a sums-mam a.

WIT/US$58 I l/l/VE/VZOB ,M; W 7/ i Arron/v56 PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904 J.K. PIPER. COTTON PICKER. APPLLJATION IiLE-D APR. 28, 1698.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

No. 768,400. P'ATENTED AUG. 23, 1904.

' J. K. PIPER. COTTON PIOKE'R;

APPLICATION nun APR. 28, 1898. y no MODEL.

B'BHEETi-SHBET 5.

\ Qtknnup UNITED STATES Patented August 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

COTTON-IPIICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,400, dated August23, 1904.

Application-filed April 28, 1898 To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs K. PIPER, a citi-v zen of the United Statesof America, residing at VVilmerding, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cotton- Pickers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incotton-pickers, and has for its object to construct a machine for thispurpose that will effectually pick and de-' posit the cotton from theopen bolls within a suitable receptacle, performing this operationwithout injury to the green bolls, blooms, or stalks of thecotton-plants.

The invention has for its further object t construct a machine for thispurpose that may be readily adjusted vertically, so as to conform to theheight of the cotton-plants.

The machine is also provided with a lid which serves to'depress suchplants as may be too high to .have the picker-fingers engage the bolls;further, amachine having a series of fingers-to engage the open bolls,together with the novel construction for operating these fingers in sucha manner as to assure their effectual engagement with the open boll.

The machine is also provided with novel means for removing the cottonfrom the picker-fingers after the latter have removed the. same from thebolls, which construction, together with the aforementioned, will all behereinafter specifically described, and particularly pointed outin theclaims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of my improved cotton-pickerwith the casing partly in sec. tion to show the interior construction.Fig- 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the casingpartly'broken away to show the mechanism. Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof one of the carrier-frames. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the adjustablegear mounted Serial Ne. 679,122. -(No model.)

view of theremoving-brush and its support-,

ing-bracket.- Fig. 9 is a side view of one of the fingers partly brokenaway. Figs. 10, 10, 10. are detail side views of the finger-carriers,showing the carrier-frames in three different positions. Fig. 11 is adetail side view of one of the finger-carriers, showing the aux- Iiliary driving means. Fig 12 is a sectional view of a portion of one ofthe finger-carriers, showing carrier frame and driving means also insection. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a portion ofone of theoval-inclined tracks for the carrier-frames and which is supported bythe hanger-rods. aview in perspective of one of the guards or casingspartly broken away to show the inclosed mechanism. Fig. 15 is anenlarged vertical sectional view of a part of one of the guardsor'casings,'showing part of the mechanism inclosed therein. Fig. 1 6 isa detail perspective view of part of the bottom-of one of the casings,showing the tracks or ways thereon. g

Referring to the drawings by reference-figures, '1 denotes the two siderails, which aresupportedat the, rear end by a brace 2, formed integralwith the axles, for the rear or drive wheels 3. At their forward endthese side rails are supported from the front axle and are or may beprovided with a suitable fifth- The side rails 1 are connected togetherby cross-pieces 5, which receive the front and rear pair of hanger-rods6, passing through and supporting the casings or guards 7 which protectthe operating mechanism. These casings or guards extend longitudinallyof the I machine and diverge outwardly slightly toward their forwardend, so that the'distance between the same at the point where, thepicker-fingers enter is greater than at the point of exit for saidfingers. The-guards are operated vertically by the aid of'the hangerrods6, which are screw-threaded on that portion engaging the cross-pieces 5and each of which carry on their upper ends a sprocket- Fig. 1 1 is.

.upon the slotted vertical shaft. Fig.6 is a chain in one direction orthe other all thesprocket-wheels8 will beturned simultaneously in onedirection or the other, according to thedirection of movement of thedrivechain, and the guards thereby elevated or lowered. At each end ofthe operating mechanism on each side of the machine the casings orguards are provided with forwardly and rearwardly extending curvedbranches 10, which are provided with slots 11 to receive the picker-fingers, for which they act as guides. These slots terminate at therear in larger openings 12, so that the accumulated cotton on the fingermay not be removed by its engagement with the guards. These slots orrunways 11 for the fingers are in alinement with the slots or runways 13provided therefor in the ends of the guards at the rear of the operatingmechanism, said slots or runways curving in the same radius as isdescribed by the picker-fingers in their operation and being reducedgradually to a point at their ends, so that the cotton accumulatedengages and operates a miter-gear 18, mounted upon the vertical shaft19. This shaft 19 is journaled in a bracket 20, carried by the base ofthe inclosing casing, said shafthaving mounted thereon miter-gears 2122, the former engaging gear 23 and the latter engaging gear 24 of thetwo shafts 25 and 26. These two shafts 25 26 are supported by the guards7, in which they are journaled, and they carry thereon or havea portionthereof-formed into operating-worms 27 28, these worms turning with theshafts 25 26 and serving to impart motion to the carrier-frames, as willbe hereinafter described. In order to secure the perfect meshing of thegears 17 and 18 at all times, as may be required by the adjustment ofthe machine, I provide the vertical-shafts 19 with alongitudinally-extending slot 19, Fig. 6, to receive the sliding key 19,Fig. 5. The finger-carriers 29 are hollow, and each finger 30 secured insaid carriers has a sprocket 31, Fig. 12, mounted upon a hub 32, whichis journaled in the front wall. For the purpose of securing the fingerfirmly within its hub I may provide the same with a threaded portion 33,which engages in the hub, and then place a jam-nut 34 on the finger atthe rear of the sprocket-wheel and engaging said threaded portion. Oneach upper finger of each carrier is mounted a bevel-gear 35, whichmeshes with a like gear 36, carried byshaft 37 which carries on itsupper end the clutch 38. This clutch 38 carries clutch-pins 39, whichengage clutch-pins 40, carried by the spur-gear 41,

loosely mounted upon a sleeve 42, the latter being loosely mounted onthe hub in which the shaft 37 operates. This sleeve 42 is provided onits lower half with exterior screwthreads to receive the uppercarrier-frame 43. This upper carrier-frame 43 has on its one side tworollers 44, the axis of which is horizontal and each of which isprovided with peripheral grooves 45, which receive the oval inclinedupper tracks or guides 46. These tracks or guides 46 are supported bythe hangers 46', depending from the casing 7. The upper carrier-frames43 also carry on the opposite side from the rollers 44 a roller 47,which is mounted with its axis vertical and which engages an oval innertrack 48, supported by vertical standards attached to the base of theinclosing casing. The spur-gear 41, carried by each one-of thecarrier-frames 43, engages an oval-shaped and inclined rack 50, which isor may be supported from the hangers 50, depending from the casing 7.The rollers 44 are engaged by the worm 27, communicating motion to thecarrier-frames 43 and carrier 29. The lower end of the carriers 29 isformed into a hub 51, provided with a spiral groove 52, which is adaptedto receive a roller 53, mounted vertically within the aperture whichreceives said hub. These lower carrier-frames 54 are likewise providedwith two horizontally-mounted rollers 55, having the peripheral grooves56 and the oppositely-disposed roller 57. The rollers 55 travel upon thelower track 58, which is of the same style as the upper track 46, thetread of said tracks engaging in the peripheral grooves of thehorizontally-mounted rollers of both the upper and lower carrier-frames.Both of these tracks are slightly inclined upwardly toward the forwardpart of the machine. The said rollers 55 are engaged by the lower worm28 and motion communicated to the lower carrier-frames thereby. Theupper carrierframes 43 and the lower carrier-frames 54 are each providedwith hooks or knuckles 59, Fig. 4, by means of which they may be hookedtogether, so as to act as a continuous chain. ()n the lower end of thehubs 51 is mounted a roller 60, which travels on the track 61 arrangedtherefor. The shafts 25 26 also communicate the motion to the rotarycomb 68 by means of bevel-gears 69 on the shafts 25 26 engagingbevel-gears 7 O, mounted on the shaft which carries said rotary comb.This latter shaft is or may be journaled in the base and top of theinclosing casing. The shaft 26 also carries a pulley to receive thecarded belt 71, engaging pulley 72, which is supported by a bracket 73,which is or may be secured on top of oneof the rods 6. The shaft 74,which carries pulley 72, also has mounted thereon a bevel- I arrangecentrally of the tracks the two vertical shafts 78, which have. sprocketor gear wheels 79 mounted thereon near each end and which are engagedand operated by the wheels 47 and 57, carried by the uppercarrier-frames 43 and the lower carrier-frames 54, respectively, whenthe same are operated. On their upper ends these shafts carry abevelgear 80, which engages a twin gear 81, mounted on each end of thetransversely-extending shaft 82.

The machine is placed in and out of gear by means of the stationaryclutches 83 and the movable clutches 84, mounted on the rear axle. Thesemovable clutches 84 are held normally in engagement with the stationaryclutches 83'by springs 85 arranged upon the axles. They are disengagedby the vertical rods 86, connecting at the top to a horizontal rod 87,that is operated by a lever 88, extending to a'suitable position for theoperator.

One of the rods 6 carries a crank 89 to elevate and lower the.mechanism, all the said rods operating in unison byreason of thedrive-chain 9 engaging the sprocket 8 mounted thereon. For the purposeof depressing the cottonstalks and bringing the bolls into position forengagement by the picker-fingers I provide a plate or cover 90 betweenthe guards 7.

In Fig. 71 show a cross-sectional view of one'of the fingers, whichshows the same pro-' vided with claws 30, though I do not wish to limitmyself to this form of finger,as suitable engaging points of any formmay be employed on these fingers.

-Operation: Assuming thatall parts have been securedin their respectivepositions, as

heretofore described, and the gear placed in engagement so as to operatethe mechanism when the machine is moved forward, the worms 27 and 28being operated by their connection with the driving mechanismengage'therollers 44 55 and communicate motion to the frames 43 and 54,respectively. These frames, supporting the finger-carriers .29,

move the same around their respective upper and lower tracks, while asthese finger-car- -'riers are moved they simultaneously through themedium of shaft 37, gears 35 36, and chain connecting the sprocket ofthe fingers together cause the rotation of the picker-fingers as theyare carried through the slots or runways between the guards. By reasonof the worms or screws 27 28 being on an incline extending upwardlytoward the front of the machine corresponding to the inclination of thetracks which support the carrier-frames these Worms or screws willcome-into engagement at their rear end (for illustration, at thepointmarked A) with the rollers of-the carrier-frame, said rollersleaving the worms or screws at point marked B. At this time the clutch38 engages the gear 41 (which although previously rotating as-thecarrier was moved forward has communicated no motion to thepickerfingers) and causes the clutch to operate the shaft 37 to operatethe picker-fingers by the mechanism heretofore described. Thesepicker-fingers are continued in rotation until they reach the lowestpoint of the two tracks,

46 and 58,.(designated at C,)-at which time the double rollers 60,riding upon the double tracks '61 and 62, elevate the. carrier, andconsequently disengage the clutch, so that the rotation of the fingersceases between the points A and B. Thus'it will be seenthat as the,finger-carriers reach the point Bthe fingers begin their rotation; butthey arebeing thrust ormove'd forward on an incline until they arrive atD, the latter being the highest point of the track. The finger-carriersthen again begin to descend on the tracks, while at the same time thefingers are traveling downwardly and rearwardlyuntil thecarrierframes-again arrive at point C. The carrier, however, begins itselevation at point E, at which time the double roller 60 is at thelowest point of tracks 61 and 62. This movement of the carriefiframes',the carriers, and'the picker-fingersdraws the latter through thescrapers,which scrape the cotton off the fingers until theyleave thescrapers at point F.- The cotton gathered upon the fingers being thusremoved, the rotary comb 63 receives the same and transmits it to thecorded belt, from which it isremoved by the brush 77 intothe chute orother receptacle provided therefor. Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, -is

i 1. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the frame, running-gearand driving mechanism, of the two series of carrier-frames hookedtogether and traveling in an endless course, carriers mounted in saidframes, rollers mounted on said-frames,operating-screws engaging saidrollers, endless tracks to support the frames, said tracks beinginclined upwardly in the forward direction of the machine, a series ofpicker-fingers journa'led in each of said carriers, means for impartingrotary motion to said picker-fingers during their movement rearwardlyofthe. machine, means for rocking the carriers as they ride upwardly uponthe-inclined tracks, andmeans for transmitting motion from one series ofcarrierframes to the other so as to operate the same simultaneously,substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-picking machine, the combination with the' frame, therunning-gear and the mechanism, of a pair of guards which are connectedto the frame and spaced apart to form a longitudinal passage centrallyof the machine and which passage is wider at the forward than atthe rearend of the machine, said guards being provided with slots or run- Waysterminating in enlarged openings at the rear of the guards, inclinedtracks arranged within the guards, carrier-frames upon the said inclinedtrack, a series of carriers mounted in nation with the frame, therunning-gear and the driving mechanism, of an upper and a lower trackeach of which is arranged at an incline extending upwardly toward theforward end of the machine, a series of upper carrier-frames connectedtogether to travel in an endless course upon the upper track and a.series of similar frames connected together'to travel upon the lower ofsaid tracks, carriers mounted in said upper and lower frames, a seriesof picker-fingers journaled in each of said carriers, a pair of guardsspaced apart to form a longitudinal passage'centrally of the machine,said guards being provided with slots or runways adapted to receive thepickerfingers during the time they are traveling rearwardly of themachine, means for operating said carriers and carrier-frames, meansforimparting rotary motion to said pickerfingers while in the said inclinedposition, means formed in the said casing or guard to remove the cottonfrom said picker-fingers as they pass from engagement with said guards,and means for removing the cotton from said means, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with a pair of guards spacedapart, of tracks arranged in said guards and being inclined upwardlyfrom'their rear ends, carriers supported on said tracks, and rotaryfingers carried by the said carriers.

5. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with a pair of guards spacedapart, of carriersupporting frames connected together, carriers mountedin said frames, revolving pickerfingers mounted in saidcarriers, rollersjournaled on the said carrier-frames, worms journaled in the said guardsand adapted to engage the said rollers, and means for operating the saidworms, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a cotton-harvester, a series of carriers provided at their lowerends with external spirally-grooved hubs, carrier-frames adapted toreceive the hubs of the said carriers, a roller carried by each of thesaid frames adapted to travel in the grooves of the said hubs, means forconnecting said carrier-frames together, picker-fingers journaled in thesaid carriers, means for simultaneously rotating said fingers, and meansfor moving said carriers vertically within the said frames,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a cotton-harvester, a series of carriers, hubs carried on thelower ends of the said carriers, said hubs carrying peripheral spiralgrooves, a series of carrier-frames connected together and receiving thesaid hubs, another series of carrier-frames connected together andsupporting the upper ends of said carriers, inclined tracks adapted tosupport the said carrier-frames, picker-fingers journaled in the saidcarriers, means for rotating said fingers, and means for preventing therotation of the said fingers through the movement of the said. carriers,substantially as described.

8. In acotton-harvester, a series of carriers, carrier-frames supportingthe said carriers, tracks adapted to support the said carrierframes,picker-lingers journaled in the said carriers, means for rotating thesaid lingers between predetermined points of their travel, and means formoving the said carriers vertically in their frames, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

9. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with a plurality of endlesscarrier-frames consisting of a series of blocks linked together, ways onwhich said carrier-frames are movably mounted, and means for causing thecarrierframes to travel along said ways, of carriers mounted in saidframes and means for moving said carriers independently of their framesat predetermined points.

10. The combination with the carrier-frames consisting of a series ofblocks linkedtogether, ways on which said carrier-frames are mounted,means for causing the carrier-frames to travel along the said ways, ofcarriers mounted in said frames, picker-fingers mounted in saidcarriers, cooperating clutch members carried by said carrier-frames andcarriers respectively, and means for raising and lowering the carriers,whereby the clutch members are actuated.

11. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the running-gear, andthe frame mounted thereon, of guards mounted on the frame and spacedapart, inclined tracks mounted in the said guards, an inclined rackmounted in each guard above the inclined tracks thereof, upper and lowercarrier-frames mounted upon the said inclined tracks, carriers supportedin the said carrier-frames and horizontally-arranged gear-Wheels mountedupon the said IO gers, and means for'moving the said carriers verticallyto disengage the clutch members thereof from the clutch members of theupper carrier-frames.

Intestimony whereof I aifix my signature in I the presence of twoWitnesses.

JAMES K3. PIPER.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILsoN, E. ARTHUR.

